Monday, April 23, 2007

My weekend at the quilt cabin

I had to leave in a hurry on thursday. Was supposed not to leave until friday afternoon after work, but when I visited the doctor on thursday morning she told be to stay home. My arm is hurting so much. And this made it possible for me to leave one day earlier. Only one of my friends who was coming with us knew I was coming one day earlier. I packed in a hurry. Did not know if I had remembered everything. But I thought that with my arm hurting so bad I would not be able to sew that much. And as usual I pack too much. And so I did this time also :)

Arriving the cabin I parked my car a bit away from the cabin and I sneaked up to the cabin. I grabbed a branch and started to knock on one window. I hoped to scare them a bit because this is a cabin far into the woods where nobody else is. But I did not manage it too well. They spotted me through the window. A lot of laughter and warm welcome when I entered the cabin.

The fireplace was warm and the coffe on the table. Perfect timing to arrive the cabin.

Just little bit of handsewing on thursday evening. Had to take care of my arm. But a lot of laughter and jokes. It is so relaxing to have such an evening with good friends.

On friday morning I drove down to the city again and brought my dear mother up to the cabin to stay some hours with us. She used to joine all these quilt trips earlier, but now she is not well enough to stay a whole weekend. She was a clever quilter earlier, but now she will not do anything more. It was so good to have her with us, and she enjoyed it so much. When all the girls had arrived the cabin we started on our first project. A exclusive sewingbag with our logo "The spools" (Trådsnellene). I had made the pattern and friday evening was stitching day. Everyone finished their stitchery. And the next day we started to make our sewing bags under my instructions.

And this is how six sewingbags look like.

Thursda and friday was very cold and windy days. So it was nice to stay inside and sew. But saturday was so beautiful. And after all that sewing we had to go for a long walk. Listening to the birds singing, feel the sun warming and lot of jokes. What more can a quilter ask for.Well, a cup of coffe by the cabin. That tasted sooooo good out in the sun.

Next project was a table runner with curved lines. I had planned to make a romantic table runner and had found light fabrics together with a rose fabric. I think they matched good together. The clue with this tecnique is to have fabrics that is almost similar in colour. And then we started to cut the fabric with our rotary cutter. A bit scary. Would I manage to get the curves nice. Would I manage to sew them togehter nice.

With a glass of red wine it was no problem cutting beutiful curves.

Looking through the window sunday morning was a chock. It was snowing and blowing like h....

So it was with very good conscience we stayed indoors and continued our sewing. And we almost managed to complete our table runners. I only have to get the bindings on mine. And it will be beautiful on my kitchen table. My DD said to me when I came home: Finally you have made something romantic, please make more. So my next projects will be to make pillows and wallhangings in a romantic style.

Besides the sewingbag and the table runner I did some hand stitching too.

I completed two more daisy blocks, so now I have five. Will prepare more of them today.

And I handquilted some more on my wheels. I love this quilt, but I have a lot of handquilting to do on it. But not now when my arm is hurting that much.

We had a great time and we have already dated our next trip in august. I am already looking forward to that weekend.

19 comments:

Wow, what a wonderful retreat! Despite your arm hurting, you certainly accomplished quite a bit! I do hope that it's nothing serious with your arm. The bags turned out lovely and the wheel quilt is beautiful! Isn't it amazing what a class of wine will allow you to accomplish! lol ;o) Thanks for sharing!

Your retreat sounded idyllic! Nothing better in the world than to get away with girlfriends and sew! And you are so fortunate to have your mum with you to enjoy. How fabulous that you included her, she must have loved it!

I'm so jealous! I wish I had a group of friends to quilt with... and then a cabin for retreats would be even better! What a wonderful life you have there! Sorry your arm is hurting, hope it is better soon. I love your projects and can only imagine what you can accomplish with two "good" arms! Your work is beautiful.